What conditions benefit from physical therapy?
These are just a few examples of conditions that can improve with physical therapy:

• Chronic arthritis
• Chronic back pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Sports injury
• Trauma injury
• Surgery recovery
• Stroke

What are the advantages of physical rehabilitation?
Physical therapy offers patients the following benefits:

• A range of care from massage and physical therapy to a brace and medication. As opposed to following a general exercise program, physical rehabilitation involves a customized inclusive treatment plan that takes into consideration your overall health, physical challenges and desired goals.
• Improvement before and after surgery. In certain cases, physical therapy can help patients avoid the need for surgery entirely.
• Assistance with significant illness or injury, as well as cases of excess weight and limited energy.
• Pain relief, muscle strengthening, increased range of motion, optimized functionality and more.
• Long-term condition or illness care, or assistance with recovering from a short-term physical setback. It can help with the symptoms of illness, injury, life changes or aging.
• A safe environment and an educated plan for pushing your physical limits within an acceptable range, without reinjuring yourself.

To learn more about Kendall Regional Medical Center rehabilitative services or to schedule an appointment with a physician, visit us online or call us at (305) 227-5589.

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1. A healthy dose of knowledge is heart-health power. The American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both offer important insight about the treatment and prevention of heart disease.

2. Be sure to schedule regular wellness visits and routine screening tests. By doing so, you’ll help your doctor detect a problem or condition early, when treatment is typically most successful.

3. Lose excess pounds, and keep them off. Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease. It will also increase your chance of diabetes which can double your risk of a heart attack of stroke. Maintain a healthy weight by eating well an exercising regularly.

4. Eat to foster a healthy heart. Enjoy a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, lean protein, fish and low-fat or fat-free dairy. Limit the amount of fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar you consume. Pay attention to portion size, and practice moderation.

5. Get moving. Talk with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. With his or her okay, heed the advice of the American Heart Association, and get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five days a week. If you’re not sure how to start, think about something as simple as walking.

6. Quit smoking. It increases the risk of heart disease.

7. Heed the signs of a heart attack. They can be different for each individual, but chest pain is the most common symptom. Other signs may include pain in the jaw, neck, arms, back or stomach; chills and sweating; nausea; dizziness and shortness of breath.

For more information, or to find out how Kendall Regional Medical Center Heart and Vascular Institute can help you fight heart disease, visit us online or call our Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7719.

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Did you know…

• By choosing to be an organ and tissue donor, you have the power to help save lives. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, a single organ donor can save up to 8 lives.

• Most people make good candidates for organ or tissue donation. There is no minimum or maximum age, and many health conditions are not means for concern when choosing to become a donor.

• Organ donors can be living or dead. Please note that in the event of illness or injury, saving your life will always be a medical team’s top priority.

• An organ procurement organization coordinates the matching of donors with those in need.

• Approximately 75% of organ donations assist someone in the local community, other times they may be good matches for a person or people living in other areas of the country.

• Becoming an organ and tissue donor is a simple process. Sign up online at the donor registry. In addition, you can share your decision by: noting it on your driver’s license, telling both your family and your doctor, and recording your preference in your advance medical directives, will and living will.

To learn more about organ donation, or to schedule an appointment with a doctor, use Kendall Regional Medical Center’s free Consult-A-Nurse® service by calling 1-888-256-7719.

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February is American Heart Month and we would like to help you put your heart health first! Come celebrate this month at our exciting, free health fair. Learn fun tips for heart healthy living from our team of experts.

Saturday, February 11th

9:00 a.m. – 12 noon

Moderated by Alberto Sardinas of WAMR Radio

If you attend, you will enjoy:

• Free giveaways
• Cooking demonstrations
• Free blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screenings
• Heart healthy snacks
• Heart healthy exercise tips
• Advice from our panel of experts

This event is free! Please RSVP by calling 305-222-2200. We look forward to seeing you there!

Types of Ear Infections
The three main types of ear infections include the following:

• Acute otitis media, in which parts of the middle ear are infected and swollen with fluid trapped behind the eardrum
• Otitis media with effusion, in which fluid stays trapped behind the eardrum after an ear infection has run its course
• Chronic otitis media with effusion, in which fluid remains in the middle ear for a long period of time or returns constantly even though infection is no longer present

Ear Infection Causes
Ear infections can be caused by anything that causes the Eustachian tube, which runs from the middle of each ear to the back of the throat, to become blocked. This includes:

• Allergies or colds
• Sinus infections
• Excess mucus or saliva due to teething
• Tobacco smoke

Ear Infection Symptoms and Risk Factors
Adults and older children with ear infections may feel ear pain, fullness in the ear, or hearing loss in the affected ear. The following signs reported by the National Institutes of Health may mean that your infant or younger child has an ear infection:

• Tugging or pulling at ears
• Crying
• Hearing problems
• Ear drainage
• Sleep problems
• Balance problems
• Fever

You or your children are at greater risk of getting an ear infection due to the following:

• Attending daycare or preschool
• Using a pacifier
• Altitude or climate change
• Exposure to smoke
• Recent illness or any type of a recent ear infection

Ear Infection Treatments
Some ear infections clear up on their own without medication, but children under the age of 6 months with a fever or other ear infection symptoms should always be taken to the doctor. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat an ear infection, but they will only help infections caused by bacteria—some ear infections are caused by a virus, which are immune to antibiotics.

In some cases, if ear infections do not go away with usual treatments or if a child has multiple ear infections in a short period of time, tubes may be inserted into the eardrum to help drain fluids in the ear. Ear tube surgery is performed under general anesthesia.

Concerned about an ear infection or do you want to find a physician in your area? The nurses and referral specialists at Kendall Regional Medical Center’s free Consult-A-Nurse® service can help you find a doctor and schedule an appointment. Contact Consult-A-Nurse® at any time of day or night at 1-888-256-7719. For quick pediatric emergency care available 24 hours a day, take your child to Kidsville at Kendall Regional Medical Center.

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There are a number of factors involving the spine, hip, knee and leg or foot and ankle that can contribute to pain and mobility issues. Regardless of the cause, when pain interferes with walking it interferes with everyday tasks such as moving about your home, getting to and from school or a job and interacting with family and friends.

The Orthopedic & Spine Institute at Kendall Regional Medical Center now has some new tools to help pinpoint and remedy your specific problem. The Orthopedic & Spine Institute’s new 4^th floor unit in the West Patient Tower is now open. The facility features state-of-the-art patient care, and includes 48 private rooms. The team of highly skilled and knowledgeable medical experts on staff is available to evaluate your situation and create a detailed treatment plan in order to help relieve the physical pain that is affecting the quality of your everyday life. From physical therapy and orthopedic support products to medication and surgery, our experts are experienced at finding solutions that promote healing, alleviate pain and increase comfort.

To learn more about the Orthopedic & Spine Institute at Kendall Regional Medical Center, visit us online. Just remember, the first step in walking without pain is simply making a call. Call us at (305) 222-2200 to schedule a consultation with one of our orthopedic medical experts.

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Wellness visit with your primary care physician. Every woman should schedule an annual wellness visit with her primary care doctor. Such appointments are important for updating your physician about family health history, monitoring overall health and following a recommended schedule of screenings and tests. Your doctor may recommend a blood pressure screening, cholesterol test, diabetes screening, bone density test or other procedure. By updating your medical history and comparing test results from year to year, your doctor can make the best recommendations, detect problems early and find issues before they become problems.

An annual dermatologist appointment. It’s important to have a skin cancer screening once a year. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. A skin cancer screening takes mere minutes, and is so important because early detection can help save your life.

An annual mammogram appointment. Regular mammograms are an effective tool in the fight against breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute recommends that women ages 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every one to two years. Talk with your doctor about what’s right for you.

An annual gynecological appointment. Depending on your health requirements, such a visit may include a pap test, pelvic exam, clinical breast exam, STD screenings and other tests. Pap tests are an effective way to guard against cervical cancer, and having regular pap tests prevents cervical cancer almost 100 percent of the time.

Kendall Regional Medical Center boasts an experienced team of medical professionals and a number of advanced diagnostic services. To learn more about the annual appointments you should schedule, or to schedule an appointment to meet with a doctor, call our free 24-hour Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7719.

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Croup is characterized by breathing difficulties and a pronounced cough that’s similar to the sound of a barking seal. It’s often preceded by cold-like symptoms, is most commonly caused by a viral infection, and tends to affect children between three months and five years of age. Croup typically lasts between three and seven days. Talk with your doctor if croup lasts longer than a week or reoccurs frequently. Otherwise, try treating croup by doing the following:

• Talk with your doctor about possible prescription steroid medication to help reduce swelling in the airway and relieve symptoms. A nebulizer may be recommended, also. In addition, discuss the use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help lower a fever, make your child feel more comfortable and rest easier.
• Sit with your child in the bathroom as you run the hot water in your shower to create steam, and use a cool air vaporizer in your child’s room while he or she sleeps at night. Both may help him or her breathe a little easier.
• Be sure to keep your child well hydrated, even if he or she isn’t feeling much like eating or drinking.
• Wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap to help prevent the spread of croup.
• Consult your doctor if your child appears dehydrated, lethargic or is having any difficulty breathing.

To learn more about croup, visit our online health library. For more information about treating croup or to make an appointment to talk with a physician, call Kendall Regional Medical Center’s 24-hour Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7719.

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Sleep more. While it’s sometimes easier said than done, getting a good night’s sleep is important. Getting the proper amount of sleep can help brighten your outlook, improve your memory, reduce your risk of depression, fight inflammation and more. According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Are you getting enough?

Eat a healthy diet. What you eat plays a big part in overall health. Consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, lean protein, fish and low-fat or fat-free dairy. Limit your intake of fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar. When looking at opportunities to make healthy changes, consider beverages as well as meals and snacks. Use the USDA’s MyPlate program as a tool to help you make healthy choices.

Exercise most days of the week. Follow the CDC recommendations and get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five days a week. This may include walking during your lunch break, riding bikes on the weekend or going for a quick run with the jogging stroller.

See your doctor. Schedule wellness visits and annual exams. Also talk with your doctor about a recommended schedule of screening tests possibly including a mammogram, cholesterol screening, blood pressure check, colonoscopy and other procedures.

Quit smoking. We know this is a challenge for some but it is still a very realistic — and important — goal to achieve. Don't forget, it's never too late to quit. After not smoking for half a day, the carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal. Two to three months post quitting, your lung function improves. Ten years after quitting, your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut to about half that of a person who still smokes.

To learn how Kendall Regional Medical Center can help you keep your healthy resolutions, visit us online or call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7719. Happy New Year from all of us at Kendall Regional!

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