September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. Below are some facts related to thyroid cancer.
1. Thyroid cancer has had the fastest increase in incidence of any
cancer in recent years.
2. Thyroid cancer affects people of all ages, from young children to
seniors.
3. Both women and men get thyroid cancer — more than two-thirds
of the people with thyroid cancer are women.
4. Thyroid cancer has many types and variants, with treatment
tailored to the type and individual.
5. When found early, thyroid cancer is usually treatable.
6. Even when treatable, thyroid cancer is life-disrupting, expensive,
and stressful for patients and loved ones.
7. A simple Neck Check done by a medical professional during a
routine appointment can detect a thyroid nodule.
8. Most thyroid nodules are benign, not cancer.

This week is Balance Awareness Week. Patients who have difficulty with balance are at a higher risk of falls leading to injury and disability. There are a number of factors that can impact an individuals ability to balance. Conditions such as vertigo, neuropathy, musculoskeletal disorders and many others can cause impaired balance. If you are struggling with your balance, follow up with your Aveon health care team to help keep you on your feet.

July 28 was World Hepatitis Day. Hepatitis is caused by a viral infection that impacts the liver. Hepatitis affects over 300 million individuals worldwide. Recently, in Arizona there has been an outbreak of Hepatitis A caused by contaminated fruits. Fortunately, there are preventive vaccination, screening, and treatment for Hepatitis. Contact your Aveon provider for more information regarding liver health. See the following video for additional information on hepatitis.

http://www.worldhepatitisday.org/film/

Staying safe in the sun reduces your risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and cataracts. See some tips from the Center for Disease Control on how to stay safe in the sun.

Stay Sun-Safe Outdoors

1. Seek shade, especially during midday hours. This includes 10 am to 4 pm, March through October, and 9 am to 3 pm, November through February. Umbrellas, trees, or other shelters can provide relief from the sun.

2. Be extra careful around surfaces that reflect the sun’s rays, like snow, sand, water, and concrete.

3. Wear sun protection gear like a hat with a wide brim and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes.

4.Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye problems. Wrap-around sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection by blocking UV rays from the side.

5.Wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants or a long skirt for additional protection when possible. If that’s not practical, try wearing a T-shirt or a beach cover-up.

6.Apply a thick layer of broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher at least 15 minutes before going outside, even on cloudy or overcast days. Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cataracts are the leading cause of blindness world wide. Approximately 20 million people globally lose their sight due to the condition. Avoiding tobacco and limited UV light exposure can help prevent formation of cataracts. June is Cataract Awareness Month, so we encourage you to take time to have your eyes evaluated to reduce your risk of complications from cataracts and other eye diseases. If you have questions related to eye health, schedule an appointment with one of our health care providers at Aveon.

June is Men’s health month. Men have specific health concerns that should be monitored and evaluated. For example, annual screenings for prostate cancer should be performed in males above 40 years old. Testicular cancer impacts 1 in 250 males in their lifetime. Males have higher rates of heart disease, stroke and diabetes in comparison to their female counterparts. We encourage you to schedule your male well exam annually for yourself or for the men in your life. You can read more regarding men’s health at the following link https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/mens-health.

Glycomark announced a study at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions 2019. Aveon Health participated in the study from 2015 to 2018 in which 92% of patients treated with an SGLT-2 inhibitor reported a Glycomark result averaging 1.2µg/mL. These extremely low Gycomark results are not an indicator of poor glycemic control but rather an indication of medication adherence, achieving the desired effect by eliminating glucose in the urine.

The Glycomark test has been used by clinicians of Aveon Health for the past 8 years. Upon founding Aveon Health in 2014 our clinicians kept using these tests to understand and control our patient’s glucose levels.

Read the full article here 

http://classifieds.usatoday.com/press/new-clinical-study-data-show-the-glycomark-test-helps-confirm-compliance-and-appropriate-response-to-sglt-2-inhibitors/

June is migraine and headache awareness month. Did you know that headaches are one of the most common reasons why patients visit primary care? There are a number of causes of headaches and a variety of treatment options to meet the needs of individual patients. The Center for Disease Control reports approximately 20% of Females and 10% of Males report having a severe headache in the last 3 month. If you or a family member suffer from chronic headaches, make an appointment with Chantelle for an evaluation and to create an individualized treatment plan.

May is Osteoporosis Awareness month. Osteoporosis causes decreased bone density or strength, which leads in an increased risk in fractures. Although osteoporosis is more common in women, men can have osteoporosis as well. Routine screening is recommended for at risk patients. Keeping your bones healthy throughout life is essential. You can learn more about osteoporosis here : https://www.cdc.gov/features/osteoporosis/

If you have questions regarding bone health, or would like to get your screening, contact our office for a visit.

Activity induced heel pain is children is usually a self-limiting condition and often resolves in time. However, during that time, the owner of that pain does not have to suffer. Avoiding physical activities with piers stunts growth at many levels often finding the child sitting on the couch in front of the TV or electronic video screen. Avoiding sports at any level, taking medication or suffer the agony of d’feet is no longer necessary. While heel pain from Sever’s disease may years to resolve on its own, there is immediate relief awaiting the child with this debilitating condition.

While many have postulated a variety of causes of Sever’s Disease, from hormone deficiencies to who knows what, the primary cause of pain in the back of the heel in growing children, is in fact a torqueing of the growth plate between the ages of 7 and 14. With boys more effected than girls, the common finding is excessive side to side movement of the heel on contact and thru forefoot loading prior to the propulsive phase of walking or running at a time when the Achilles’ tendon is pulling on the heel from above. The force of the side to side movement at heel strike coupled with the pull from the tendon above loosens the interface between the growth plate (apophysis) and the actual body of the heel known as the calcaneus. It is labeled self-limiting because the growth plate eventually closes, and the two segments become one solid bone. A classic sign of excessive motion is the top of the heel tilting toward the mid-line of the body in stance as viewed from behind.

Treatment for this condition is straight forward. Every attempt is made to maintain the heel in a vertical position with a few degrees of motion to allow for adaptation of the heel to the ground and help the body avoid the impact shock to the leg and low back. A competent lower extremity exam usually will reveal the primary cause of the excessive heel motion and once established, either a pre-fabricated orthotic or a custom made functional orthotic placed in the shoe prevents the excessive side to side motion and the inflammation and pain stops in a few days without the need for analgesics or anti-inflammatory medication. Rest and ice are almost always unnecessary with most children returning to all activities of choice without re-occurrence of the pain.