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JULY 2019 Health Newsletter
Greetings to our patients and readers of Chapala Med’s Health Newsletter. Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s Chapala Med newsletter. Although it may be “LOW” season in June and July, we’ve been pretty busy these past two months. I did finally get my first “real” vacation since opening my practice in Nov. 2012. I got to go to the Rotary International conference in Hamburg, Germany the first 2 weeks of June. I really enjoyed Germany and the German people. I got to see a lot of historic sites that included the Berlin Wall and a Concentration camp. Left me with a lot to reflect upon, that’s for sure.
I hope you all had a happy and festive CANADA DAY and 4th of July celebrations, respectively. Since opening my practice in Chapala in 2012 one thing has remained consistent especially during this time of year, a rise in the incidence of GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTiONS. But interestingly enough I have seen an increased number of respiratory infections and pharyngitis ever since the fires broke out in May. The signs and symptoms my patients presented with were consistent with a viral TRACHEOLARINGITIS and EPIGLOTITIS. I am not sure where my patients contracted an infection that usually presents in babies and toddlers. I would assume from their grandchildren. So, please remember to take measures to prevent the spread of respiratory infections amongst family members and in the community.
I am pleased to announce that this past weekend the hospital owners, administrators and some physicians who will be part of the new hospital met in Ajijic. The
Ribera Medical Center Hospital across from EL DORADO condominiums on EL LIBRAMIENTO is set to open the first week of Jan. 2020. Construction is carrying on full steam ahead and it WILL BE FULLY functional when it opens. We’d like to congratulate the doctors and owners of San Antonio Hospital for opening their doors to the community. Although there is much buzz in the community about the hospitals I have great news to report about Chapala Med. Not only has earned it’s affiliation with
HOSPITAL COUNTRY 2000 and PUERTA DE HIERRO SUR hospitals in Guadalajara but I’d like to remind you all that we are part of the
University Of Chicago International Medical Program. This program focuses on bringing the forefront of medicine to the world and to the LAKE CHAPALA area. Our primary care practice has a broad support in Mexico and abroad which empowers our patients and broadens their choices for access to world class healthcare.
Chapala Med and the RMC hospital will count with the full support of several major hospitals in Guadalajara for cases that require resources that the RMC hospital may not have to handle extremely complex cases. The future of medical care in Lakeside looks brighter and brighter each day!
In closing I’d like to remind our readers of our (Chapala Med & Ribera Medical Center’s)
MISSION STATEMENT so that you are all aware of what we are striving to accomplish everyday and hold us to this mission. Thank you for continued support.
Santiago R. Hernandez M.D.
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Increased weight raises your risk of Atrial Fibrillation.
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World Hepatitis Day
, observed on July 28
every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis
– a group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis
A, B, C, D, and E – and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
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Hepatitis
Many of us have heard of hepatitis but what exactly is it? Hepatitis is when the liver is inflamed. Sometimes caused by a virus, whereas others are caused by autoimmune reasons where it’s three times more common in women than in men. Other kinds of hepatitis can be caused by medications or alcohol. When hepatitis is caused
by a virus is classified as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Each letter represents a different causing virus.
Hepatitis A is always an acute, short-term disease, most commonly transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by feces from a person infected with hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen, containing the hepatitis B virus. Injection drug use, having sex with an infected partner, or sharing razors with an infected person increase your risk of getting hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, typically through injection drug use and sexual contact and is among the most common bloodborne viral infections in the United States.
Also called delta hepatitis, Hepatitis D s a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis D virus that is contracted through direct contact with infected blood. Hepatitis D is a rare form of hepatitis that only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B infection. The hepatitis D virus can’t multiply without the presence of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E is mainly found in areas with poor sanitation and typically results from ingesting fecal matter that contaminates the water supply. This disease is uncommon in the United States. However, cases of hepatitis E have been reported in the Middle East, Asia, Central America, and Africa.
What can you do to not get hepatitis? First of all, you can protect yourself by immunizations and taking some simple precautions.
Excessive alcohol consumption can cause liver damage and inflammation and can cause alcoholic hepatitis. What happens is the alcohol directly injures the liver cells. Over time, it can cause permanent damage and lead to liver failure and cirrhosis, where the liver becomes thickened and scarred. No bueno.
Other toxic causes of hepatitis include overuse or overdose of medications and exposure to poisons.
How would you know if you have hepatitis? The signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis appear quickly. They include: fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, yellow skin and eyes.
To diagnose hepatitis, first your doctor will take your history to determine any risk factors you may have for infectious or noninfectious hepatitis. Then, during a complete
physical examination, evaluate you to see if there’s pain or tenderness. Your doctor may also feel to see if your liver is enlarged. If your skin or eyes are yellow, your doctor will note this during the exam.
Liver function tests use blood samples to determine how efficiently your liver works. Abnormal results of these tests may be the first indication that there is a problem, especially if you don’t show any signs on a physical exam of liver disease. High liver enzyme levels may indicate that your liver is stressed, damaged, or not functioning properly.
Other tests can check for the viruses that cause hepatitis. They can also be used to check for antibodies that are common in conditions like autoimmune hepatitis.
Diagnostic imaging like and ultrasound uses ultrasound waves to create an image of the organs within your abdomen, non invasively. This test allows your doctor to take a close at your liver and nearby organs. It can reveal: fluid in your abdomen, liver damage or enlargement, liver tumors and any abnormalities of your gallbladder.
Some tips to prevent hepatitis A include practicing your own good hygiene, i
f you’re traveling to a developing country, you should avoid the
local water,
ice,
raw or undercooked shellfish and oysters, and
raw fruit and vegetables
Hepatitis B, C, and D contracted through contaminated blood can be prevented by: not sharing drug needles, not sharing razors, not using someone else’s toothbrush, not touching spilled blood. Hepatitis B and C can also be contracted through sexual intercourse and intimate sexual contact. Practicing safe sex by using condoms and dental dams can help decrease the risk of infection.
The use of vaccines is an important key to preventing hepatitis. Ask your doctor if you need a vaccination to
prevent the development of hepatitis A and B.
– Dr.
Cherry Adjchavanich
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OnabotulinumtoxinA Safer, More Effective for Headache Prevention Than Topiramate
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