Sent December 21, 2017
Back from Israel, back from France, back from Continuing Medical Education in Manhattan... Back in the office in full force!
Are you ready for the new year? I've got a few tips and pointers that will help you make the best of your health in 2018.
→ Physical Exam
You still have a few days to get your comprehensive physical exam before the end of the year, a money saver for some people. For that reason, I extended the usual office hours to accommodate those who need to come in on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday of next week (between the holidays).
Call us today at (203) 653-1919 for an appointment, we'll do our best to accommodate you!
→ Rethinking High Blood Pressure - 130=120?
It's the talk of the town, the blood pressure guidelines changed (by the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and other health organizations). Any blood pressure above 120 mm Hg systolic (the higher of the two BP numbers) is considered elevated. The old cutoff mark was 130 systolic. This is a change that took too long to come, we've known the facts for years, but it does encourage more people to make the necessary changes to keep their pressure under control and prevent the complications of hypertension, especially stroke and heart attacks.
Is this lower blood pressure right for everyone? No. There are some instances were a higher blood pressure is acceptable, or even necessary, but these have to be discussed with a physician after a thorough evaluation.
→ Taking NSAIDs Regularly? Think Again
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Aleve and Celebrex) are usually taken for short duration skeletomuscular pain or headache. Some are available over the counter. Taking these medications for short periods (a day or two at a time) is generally considered safe. Recent studies proved what was suspected for a long time, that taking NSAIDs chronically causes a small, but definite, increase of the risk of a heart attack. This is in addition to the known risk of heart burn, ulcers and GI bleeding.
Of the familiar NSAIDs, Celebrex (a prescription drug), appears to be the safest. So, if you are using an NSAID on a regular basis, let's see if we can find an alternative.
→ Flu shot
The flu season in Connecticut appears to have started, but is still at a minimal level.
Have you gotten your flu shot yet? If not, get the quadrivalent vaccine if you can; otherwise, the trivalent vaccine will do - just get it!
If you have a severe (not mild) egg allergy, get the vaccination in a medical facility equipped to handle allergic reactions.
→ To Our ConnectiCare Patients
I continue to participate in the ConnectiCare network as I always have. You may have gotten a notice from ConnectiCare that I will no longer be a provider in their network, but the issue was resolved. FYI, ConnectiCare has been receiving the highest grades from my patients, join them if you can.
→ Uninsured And Under-Insured Patients
Judging from the changes just passed by both Houses, and the significant hikes in insurance rates, I expect that more people will be uninsured, or will be under-insured (e.g., very high deductibles, high copays, hospital-coverage only), and will have to pay out of pocket for ordinary medical services.
As many of you know, we try our best to make our practice services as affordable as possible, and take into account financial need and difficulty. We use lab facilities (blood work, x-rays, etc.) that can better accommodate self-pay patients.
So, if you are uninsured or under-insured, don't deny yourself medical care, contact our office.
Remember that making New Year's resolutions is the easy part...
Have a happy, healthy New Year!
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
www.drstaw.com
www.twitter.com/drstaw
Dr. Staw on Facebook
Friday, December 22, 2017
To My Patients
Thursday, October 26, 2017
To My Patients
Sent 10-3-2017
Hope all is well; still taking advantage of the outdoors? It's sure a nice time of the year in our part of the country, go outside and take a walk while you still can! → Office Hours for the Next Two Weeks
Sandy and I are going to take a
"real vacation" this time (it's been a long time in coming...).
We'll be in Israel and France for a little over two weeks, visiting friends
and family, and sightseeing.
We will be out of the office starting Friday, October 27, through Monday, November 13. We will be back in the office on Tuesday, November 14. During our vacation time, Janine will be in the office during our usual office hours, and Dr. Sarfraz will be covering me. If necessary, Janine will be able to reach me. Please plan ahead and let us know if you need anything before we leave on the 27th of this month. We're in the office this week, and if you need an appointment or a prescription, please call asap! → Flu Shots
I
would like to remind everyone that it's now time to get your flu vaccine. It
doesn't matter if you get it in the doctor's office or the pharmacy, just
make sure you get it.
Enjoy your Halloween! Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D. www.drstaw.com weightloss.drstaw.com www.twitter.com/drstaw Dr. Staw on Facebook |
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
To My Patients
Labor Day is over, with only two days left until fall, and the time is approaching to walk in the park and watch the leaves turn color. Personally, we took a walk up and around Kent Falls, it's beautiful and it's only about an hour away from the office - any easy excursion for some great exercise! → Want to keep your carb intake low?
It's
so important for control of diabetes and pre-diabetes, and for weight
control. Here are some low carb suggestions.
And the list goes on, give us a call and ask for more! → Longevity in the US, revisited
The CIA report of 2016 still ranks
the US 41st in the world in longevity (average life expectancy 79.8 years,
77.5 for males, 82.1 for females). This continues to be a very disappointing
statistic, despite having the best medical facilities in the world, and
despite spending more than any other country on health care per capita. More
and more reports are emerging about the role of faulty lifestyles in
decreasing longevity. A recent report strongly suggests that more than 40% of
premature deaths in the US occur because of faulty lifestyles, with the most
important one the combination of overweight and lack of exercise. Number two
(used to be number one) is smoking.
To make a long story short: Want to live longer? Don't just rely on medical care, make sure you stay at an acceptable weight, be physically active, avoid tobacco in all forms, don't drink alcohol to excess and avoid unnecessary or illicit drugs. For more detail, look at my last year's letter on this subject, available on my blog at http://drstaw.blogspot.com/2016/11/to-my-patients-september-2016.html → Office hours
Please note that the office will
be closed this Thursday, September 21, it's Rosh Hashanah.
In addition, we'll be away, visiting our son and his family in Denver, from Thursday, September 28th, through the following Tuesday, October 3rd. If you need an appointment, please call us today and we'll see what we can do to help you out as quickly as possible! → To our Cigna Patients
Our
Cigna contract is running out as of November 1st. However, I will continue to
see Cigna patients on an out-of-network basis at affordable fees (fees will
be scaled down even further for patients with financial issues, as we do with
all other non-participating insurance plans). We hope to reestablish our
relationship with Cigna soon. I want to remind everyone that we do
participate with ConnectiCare, they have been very good to our patients.
Please call us if you have concerns!
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D. www.drstaw.com weightloss.drstaw.com www.twitter.com/drstaw Dr. Staw on Facebook |
Monday, November 28, 2016
To My Patients, October 2016
Autumn is upon us, but you may still find some days warm enough to walk
outdoors; take advantage of the time you've got!
Please be aware that Sandy and I will be away for a few days, from Thursday afternoon next week, 10/27, through the following Tuesday. We'll be back in the office on Wednesday, 11/2. We'll be visiting our son and his family in Denver, Colorado. We miss them since they moved from our area over two months ago.
Janine will be in the office during our regular hours, and Dr. Sarfraz will cover if necessary. Please plan ahead, if you need an appointment before we're back, call us immediately!
→ Difficulty Falling Asleep or Staying Asleep?
Please be aware that Sandy and I will be away for a few days, from Thursday afternoon next week, 10/27, through the following Tuesday. We'll be back in the office on Wednesday, 11/2. We'll be visiting our son and his family in Denver, Colorado. We miss them since they moved from our area over two months ago.
Janine will be in the office during our regular hours, and Dr. Sarfraz will cover if necessary. Please plan ahead, if you need an appointment before we're back, call us immediately!
→ Difficulty Falling Asleep or Staying Asleep?
If
this is your problem, you don't necessarily have to resort to prescription medication.
Many patients have found the Relaxation Response, practiced at bed time, to be
very helpful. It's a progressive muscle tension-relaxation routine that takes
2-5 minutes to complete. It's a proven stress management tool which works even
better if practiced more than once a day.
Others have used one or more over-the-counter preparations. The most effective ones, according to some authorities, are Melatonin, valerian and L-tryptophan. They work better when combined with a relaxation technique, but are not very effective for severe insomnia.
Feel free to discuss sleep problems when you're in the office, even if it's not the main reason for your appointment.
If you want a copy of my preferred version of the Relaxation Response, please let me know by phone or email.
→ Banking Calories Before The Holidays
Others have used one or more over-the-counter preparations. The most effective ones, according to some authorities, are Melatonin, valerian and L-tryptophan. They work better when combined with a relaxation technique, but are not very effective for severe insomnia.
Feel free to discuss sleep problems when you're in the office, even if it's not the main reason for your appointment.
If you want a copy of my preferred version of the Relaxation Response, please let me know by phone or email.
→ Banking Calories Before The Holidays
The holiday season is around the corner, with parties,
parties and parties. And with the parties comes eating and overeating, and then
comes the weight gain. The average American gains 1-3 pounds during the holiday
season. It doesn't sound like a lot of weight, but many people don't shed the
extra weight, or take months to lose it.
"Banking calories" is not a great lifestyle, but if you find it hard to control your food intake during holiday time, the method may work well for you.
With calorie banking you cut down on what you eat, but not starve, for several days before the big feast. Many Americans consume 4,500 calories (or more) during the Thanksgiving meal, which is about 3000-3500 calories more than they should. This is enough for a gain of one pound at the Thanksgiving dinner alone!
It not too hard to cut 500 calories of food (that's about one and one half bagels) for a few days before an eating event, and it doesn't even have to be on consecutive days. A little increase in exercise will help too, and pushing away from the table is a good way to start.
The old Chinese saying still holds "He who takes medicine and neglects diet wastes the skill of his doctor." So help me not waste my skills.
Until next time, stay well,
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
www.drstaw.com
weightloss.drstaw.com
www.twitter.com/drstaw
Dr. Staw on Facebook
"Banking calories" is not a great lifestyle, but if you find it hard to control your food intake during holiday time, the method may work well for you.
With calorie banking you cut down on what you eat, but not starve, for several days before the big feast. Many Americans consume 4,500 calories (or more) during the Thanksgiving meal, which is about 3000-3500 calories more than they should. This is enough for a gain of one pound at the Thanksgiving dinner alone!
It not too hard to cut 500 calories of food (that's about one and one half bagels) for a few days before an eating event, and it doesn't even have to be on consecutive days. A little increase in exercise will help too, and pushing away from the table is a good way to start.
The old Chinese saying still holds "He who takes medicine and neglects diet wastes the skill of his doctor." So help me not waste my skills.
Until next time, stay well,
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
www.drstaw.com
weightloss.drstaw.com
www.twitter.com/drstaw
Dr. Staw on Facebook
To My Patients, September 2016
It's been a wonderful summer; fall is around the corner. It's a great
opportunity to take advantage of the outdoors, walking hiking, apple picking,
you name it...
It's also a good time to take care of yourself, make sure you are at optimal health.
→ My Take On Optimal Health
It's also a good time to take care of yourself, make sure you are at optimal health.
→ My Take On Optimal Health
I
have been looking at US health and longevity data for many years and was very
active in a niche organization dealing with health risk reduction.
By health standards, we are not doing very well in the US. But you, as an individual, can do a whole lot better.
In a 2015 survey, the US ranked approximately #43 in longevity, with a life expectancy of 79 years, at least 5 years below the top ranking countries such as Monaco, Japan and Singapore. Yet the per capita cost of medicine in the US is the highest in the world. Still, early detection of disease, and the treatment of disease is the most aggressive and advanced in the world (despite all of its deficiencies), and that's a good thing.
But the key to longer, healthier life is lifestyle. That's where you can do something for yourself beyond what the health system does not do for you.
There's no need to re-emphasize the danger of smoking. It's still the number one primary cause of premature death in the US.
Overweight and lack of physical activity, combined, is the number two cause of premature death in the US.
You can increase your physical activity and lead an interesting life even if you don't go to the gym. The fall season is a great time to take a walk by the beach, hike on a nature trail, visit the outdoors flea market (at least 10 of them in Fairfield County), or walk the long corridors of the museums. Apple picking is a great weekend activity in the fall. Are you into the Pokémon game? Good. People active in the game, "chasing" the Pokémon, have reported impressive weight losses of 30-40 pounds, and they are having fun doing it.
Healthier foods have now become common place in supermarkets and many restaurants. Organic and less processed food is much more available. There are an increased choice of low sugar, whole grain, and low saturated foods. But you still have to read the label carefully. Farmer's markets are offering fresher, tastier fruit and vegetables.
Even the fast food places now offer much healthier foods, including chicken that is not fried, and fresh salads (but please avoid those French fries and the heavy duty salad dressings-a little oil and vinegar will do).
With all of that, still don't forget early detection, which is the most important part of your routine physical examination, plus prevention, which includes immunizations and treatment of known health risks.
So there's a lot you can do for yourself to increase longevity. As a whole we don't have to be part of the "43rd ranking" of longevity. Individually we can do a whole lot better than that.
→ Keeping It Healthy
By health standards, we are not doing very well in the US. But you, as an individual, can do a whole lot better.
In a 2015 survey, the US ranked approximately #43 in longevity, with a life expectancy of 79 years, at least 5 years below the top ranking countries such as Monaco, Japan and Singapore. Yet the per capita cost of medicine in the US is the highest in the world. Still, early detection of disease, and the treatment of disease is the most aggressive and advanced in the world (despite all of its deficiencies), and that's a good thing.
But the key to longer, healthier life is lifestyle. That's where you can do something for yourself beyond what the health system does not do for you.
There's no need to re-emphasize the danger of smoking. It's still the number one primary cause of premature death in the US.
Overweight and lack of physical activity, combined, is the number two cause of premature death in the US.
You can increase your physical activity and lead an interesting life even if you don't go to the gym. The fall season is a great time to take a walk by the beach, hike on a nature trail, visit the outdoors flea market (at least 10 of them in Fairfield County), or walk the long corridors of the museums. Apple picking is a great weekend activity in the fall. Are you into the Pokémon game? Good. People active in the game, "chasing" the Pokémon, have reported impressive weight losses of 30-40 pounds, and they are having fun doing it.
Healthier foods have now become common place in supermarkets and many restaurants. Organic and less processed food is much more available. There are an increased choice of low sugar, whole grain, and low saturated foods. But you still have to read the label carefully. Farmer's markets are offering fresher, tastier fruit and vegetables.
Even the fast food places now offer much healthier foods, including chicken that is not fried, and fresh salads (but please avoid those French fries and the heavy duty salad dressings-a little oil and vinegar will do).
With all of that, still don't forget early detection, which is the most important part of your routine physical examination, plus prevention, which includes immunizations and treatment of known health risks.
So there's a lot you can do for yourself to increase longevity. As a whole we don't have to be part of the "43rd ranking" of longevity. Individually we can do a whole lot better than that.
→ Keeping It Healthy
If you need any help staying on track, or if you think
there's something you can do better, please feel free to reach out by email or
phone.
If you need any help, I'm here.
Stay well,
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
If you need any help, I'm here.
Stay well,
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
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