When it’s finally time to store away your winter coats and boots, it’s also a good time to rid your home of the allergens that accumulated over the winter, an allergist suggests.

“If you aren’t someone who regularly undertakes spring cleaning, consider tackling it this year,” said Dr. Todd Mahr, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

“A thorough cleaning helps get rid of things like dust, mold, pet dander and other allergens, which may have been making you miserable all winter. Many people think spring and fall is when their seasonal allergies kick in. They might not realize indoor allergens can also cause chaos with your nasal passages and lungs and that a thorough cleaning can help,” Mahr explained in an ACAAI news release.

Pet dander, fur and saliva are among the allergens that can build up during winter. The best way to control them is to vacuum often and wash upholstery, including your pet’s bed. Never let your pet in the bedroom.

Change your air filters every three months and choose ones with a MERV rating of 11 or 12, Mahr advised. Fight dust mites by vacuuming regularly with a cyclonic vacuum — which spins dust and dirt away from the floor — or one equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Wash bedding and stuffed animals weekly.

Mold is another major indoor allergen typically found in the basement, bathroom and kitchen. Reducing moisture is the key to eliminating it. Use bathroom fans and always wipe away any standing water immediately. Use detergent and water to scrub visible mold from surfaces, and then dry surfaces completely. Keep your home’s humidity below 60 percent and clean your gutters regularly to prevent leaks.

As tempting as that fresh, warm air outside is, keep your home’s windows closed during spring, Mahr suggested, because breezes can bring pollen through open windows. Keep your car windows closed too; use your air conditioning.

Mahr pointed out that allergy symptoms can appear before spring actually arrives. By starting to take your allergy medications two to three weeks before symptoms usually begin, you can avoid severe symptoms. If over-the-counter allergy medicines don’t help, talk with an allergist, he said.

MedicalNews
Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
SOURCE: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, news release, Feb. 26, 2019

Meet Health Coach Jennifer Boss

Water makes up the majority of our body weight and is involved in many important bodily functions. In addition to staying hydrated, water also contributes to regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, and protecting the brain. The amount of water you consume daily plays a very important role in maintaining overall health. Here are some tips for staying hydrated throughout the day:

• Carry your water bottle. The easiest way to remember to drink more water is to keep your water bottle handy at all times. Your water bottle becomes your visual cue to drink more water, and you are more likely to refill it as soon as it’s empty.
• Drink the right amount of water.** Certain health conditions and lifestyles can determine how much water you really need. For example, pregnant women or athletes exercising in the heat may need extra fluids to stay hydrated.
• Drink water with every meal. Drinking water with your meals will not only help you stay hydrated, but can also help improve your body’s digestion. If you are hydrated, your body produces sufficient saliva, which helps break down food into nutrients that the body can absorb.
• Recognize the signs of dehydration. If you experience symptoms such as thirst, headache, muscle cramps, or fatigue, you should try to replenish your fluids as soon as possible.

Proper hydration is just as critical as healthy nutrition when achieving lifelong transformation. Ask Coach Jen if you need other tips on how to stay hydrated!

Meet Coach Jen
Independent OPTAVIA Coach and Certified Health and Wellness Coach
(772)-261-0680 to learn more about creating healthy habits.

In health there is no denying the power of self-awareness and the tools for creating a healthy mindset. One of the most challenging aspects on our transformation journeys is working through discomfort. If we understand how we approach our choices, we are more likely to make healthier decisions instead of slipping back into unhealthy habits in uncomfortable situations. In fact, experiencing discomfort can be necessary for growth. In order to reprogram our habits when we’re faced with difficult choices, we first have to see the opportunities for making better choices. Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen offers some suggestions on becoming more mindful: Plan ahead. Prepare healthy meals in advance or keep a small healthy snack handy to account for what you are going to eat before you become too hungry. Keep a journal. Reflecting on your day and documenting the healthy choices you did make or could have made in your journal will help make you more mindful when these scenarios happen again. Work with a Health Coach. Talking with someone regularly that supports and guides you through your health journey can help you see more opportunities for transforming your health. Recognizing how our own habits are structured is the next step toward transforming unhealthy habits to healthy habits when faced with a difficult or uncomfortable situation. This practice is easier if you use Stop. Challenge. Choose.: Stop. Take a slow, deep breath to help control your emotions. Recognize that you are triggering an unhealthy habit. Pausing and taking a breath helps to regain control. Challenge. Think about why you are responding to the situation the way you are. Remind yourself of your goals and the choices you should be making to reach these goals. Choose. Make the healthy choice that gives you a similar reward but is much better for your long-term health.Like other habits, using Stop. Challenge. Choose. may take some time to practice and implement, but over time it will become an automated response.

Meet Coach Jen
Independent OPTAVIA Coach and Certified Health and Wellness Coach
(772)-261-0680 to learn more about creating healthy habits.

Patient Mentoring and Support in Weight Loss

Fundamental choice allows each and every one of us to change.  We have a choice to feel healthy and live a healthy lifestyle.   Whether your spouse or your health care provider suggests a weight loss change ultimately will depend on your fundamental choice.  Many patients who are contemplating a weight loss program wish they had someone to talk to regarding their personal goal and relationship with food.  Dietary changes, exercise, and other lifestyle changes are an important aspect to a successful relationship with food.

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Understanding the Benefits of Our Patient Mentoring Program

At Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates, our clinical team along with our health coach have an established  patient mentoring program to provide the necessary mental strength and support patients desire. Our Patient Mentoring Program is designed from our clinical team with goals designed for lifetime transformations.

How Our Weight Loss Program Works

Patients can openly discuss desired nutritional and weight loss goals with your health care provider.  Upon meeting with a clinician at Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates,  a referral may be made to a health couch for personalize mentorship.  These health coaches are mentors that have the life experience to aid others though their weight loss journey. The mentors have not been trained nor coached by our medical professionals; their qualifications to participate in the patient mentor program is that they have undergone a weight loss journey themselves and are successful in maintaining their weight loss, as well as their overall health.

Leading by Examples – Weight Loss Program

Several of our patients have already volunteered to participate in this program so that they can provide the much-needed support to our new patients who are considering their own weight loss journey to healthy habits.  Many  patients would like guidance from a person who has already been in their shoes, so we are very lucky that many of our patients  want to help others achieve the success they now enjoy. Our patient mentor program is all about providing tips and support, as well as answering the patient’s questions and referring them to other resources that will be helpful to their current situation. This kind of patient mentor support has proven to be effective in making the transition to a new lifestyle easier. Once the mentor is assigned to the patient, the two of them will decide how to stay in touch and how often they will contact. They can even exercise together, share their stories and experience, and cheer each other on.

The Importance of Patient Mentor Program

At Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates, we want you to obtain optimal health and well being.  Just a 10% reduction in your weight is said to lower your risk of disease by fifty percent.  With weight loss, patients feel more energized and are introduced to healthy habits to adapt to their lifestyles.  Be sure to ask your health care provider about a customized weight loss program designed for you.

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Diabetes is a common life-long health problem which involves professionals to help you deal with it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2010 that there are 25.8 million children and adults in the United States or 8.3 percent of the population has diabetes. So, if you have symptoms or diagnosed with diabetes, you are not alone. There are several people who take the challenge of winning over the disease. Our expertise and medical background will guide you to take control of your health condition.

Here are the things we can help you with:

• Education. Diabetes is a health condition which is your blood sugar level is too high. When the pancreas cannot produce insulin to move the sugar(glucose) into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel, it will stay in the bloodstream. Then, it will keep your sugar level high. The high sugar level can damage your eyes, nerves, kidneys and other organs over time. It can also cause heart disease, stroke and limb amputation if not treated. It is so much you need to know about diabetes and we are willing to provide you with information to guide you through. The more you understand your disease, the more you know how to deal with it. We are willing to give you any updates, information, and treatments.
• Diagnose/Symptoms. Blurry vision; fatigue; frequent thirst, hunger, and urination; weight loss are among the symptoms of diabetes. Through laboratory examinations, (urine analysis, blood tests) diabetes can be diagnosed. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas is making little or no insulin while type 2 occurs when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. Sometimes symptoms are not easily noticed that some people may be very sick by the time it is diagnosed. This is why it is important to see your health provider regularly.
• Treatment and Care. Treatment involves medication, diet, and exercise. The goal is to control blood sugar levels and prevent the symptoms and complications. Type 2 diabetes is usually treated through lifestyle changes and in some cases with weight-loss surgery. Get involved in controlling your blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure will help reduce the risk levels helps reduce the risks of kidney disease, nervous system disease, eye disease, heart attack, and stroke. Treatment and care involve both the patient and the health professionals. We are here to help you battle with this complicated disease.
• Management.  Since diabetes can be a life-long health condition, managing is very important. Taking personal responsibility is necessary to avoid life-threatening complications. If you stick to your goal and keep your health and care plans, you can make a difference. Managing your condition involves regular monitoring of your condition, taking your medication regularly, changing lifestyle and watching your diet. These things are best done with the help of health professionals. We can help you in many ways in managing your disease.
• Prevention. Maintaining an ideal weight and participate in an active lifestyle is one way of preventing diabetes to occur. Also, prevention of diabetes complication is very important. Diabetes complications are life-threatening that you need to take it seriously.

We are professionals who are willing to care and help every patient with diabetes. We can work together as a team to get positive results. We recognize our role as health professionals and we are looking forward to helping you!

Making Your Wishes Known

Medical End of Life Forms

It can be hard to talk to our loved ones about what kind of treatment we would or would not want at the end of life. But if they don’t know what our wishes are, it makes it so much harder on them to make decisions on our behalf. Life is unpredictable. That’s why it’s important to make sure that the ones who love us are able to answer for us when the time comes.

Since we don’t know when our time may come (even if we are healthy, unexpected things like auto accidents can and do happen every day), EVERYONE, no matter what age should have what is called a health care proxy or health care surrogate. This is someone you trust (usually next of kin, but it doesn’t have to be) to understand what you would want when you can’t answer for yourself.

Medical End of Life Legal Form for Floridians

This is the legal form you need in Florida in order to make sure your wishes are followed:
http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/ad/Florida.pdf

If you aren’t sure about what specific life-sustaining measures are, ask your doctor. Sometimes it’s hard for physicians to bring up the topic, but it is a conversation we all need to have, so don’t be afraid to ask us!

Understanding the Benefits of an Internal Medicine Physician

Not to be confused with an “intern” who is someone in their first year of training after completing medical school, an internist spends three years after medical school learning how to care for adults with both simple and complex diseases and also how to help keep adults healthy. You can think of them as a pediatrician for grown-ups. While practice patterns are changing, many general internists (like many in our practice) take care of the whole patient both in the office and in the hospital. They are the doctors who know you best and help when you are well and when you are sick.  Read more about internists from the American College of Physicians:
http://www.acponline.org/patients_families/about_internal_medicine/

Developing an Asthma Action Plan

An Asthma Action Plan is a tool you can use to help manage your asthma. You and your doctor can work together to develop an action plan.  In it will include your list of triggers and your asthma severity classification, current treatment, symptoms, history and emergency procedures.

An asthma action plan has three zones which classify your condition, which is also labeled in different colors (green, yellow, red or green, is your goal on a daily basis which means you have no asthma symptoms and feeling great. Yellow, means you are experiencing difficulties. It is time to slow down and use quick-relief medicine. Red means you have severe asthma symptoms. You need medical treatment if symptoms do not improve.

You can work with your doctor determining your zone. Your peak flow rate or symptoms will determine your zones. A Peak Flow Meter is used to know your peak flow rate.  Also, tracking your symptoms will also determine your zones.

Remember, you can control your asthma and can live an active life working together with your doctor.

A person can be at high or moderate risk to develop CVD as discussed below:

• Moderate risk doesn’t mean you are free from CVD. It means you need to make relevant changes in your lifestyle before it is too late. Though medicines are not usually prescribed in this category, you should do something to reduce whatever risk you have.
• High risk. If you are at high risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, we prescribed treatment with medicine and guide you along on your lifestyle issues.

How Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates, P.A. can help you with Cardiovascular Disease

We aim to give the right diagnosis and treatment so we can lead our patients to the improved health outcome.
Treatment of Cardiovascular disease is composed of medication and change in lifestyle.

• Medication to control the disease is usually prescribed.
• You will be advised to change lifestyle like quit smoking, change diet, participate in the active lifestyle.
• You will be referred to the specialist if you need to like: dietician, stop smoking clinic or surgeon. Serious cases usually undergo surgery.

There are four major types of CVD as follows:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD). When your heart’s blood supply is interrupted because of the fats (atheroma) in your coronary arteries, CHD occurs. This can cause chest pains(angina) and if the coronary arteries are completely blocked, you can have a heart attack.
• Stroke. It is a serious medical condition which the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Since the brain needs a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients provided by blood, these things should not be restricted or stopped. But because of blocked arteries, the blood supply is disturbed and restricted. This causes brain cells to die and will lead to brain damage or even death. Therefore, CVD is not something we take for granted.
• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD). This occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries in your limbs. Pain in your legs, thigh hips and calves are the usual problems. There will be a risk in getting the infection in an affected limb. In some serious cases, it can cause gangrene or tissue death that sometimes leads to amputation.
• Aortic Disease. This occurs when the aorta (the largest blood vessel) is restricted. It weakens and bulges outwards that causes pain in the chest, back or abdomen. The end result is that the amount of oxygen and nutrients available for the organs of the body is decreased.

If you have problems in any of CVD discussed above, you need to be regularly checked by a Clinical Team Member at our practice.

Visit Our HouseCall Specialists Website

As the Founder of Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates, Dr. Daniel Boss is please to offer senior living communities home medical visits for Medicare patients. Patients living at senior living communities in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta or Juno Beach can receive a house call visit by Advanced Practical Registered Nurse Katherine Hnis.

Providing a Continuation of Care for Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates Patients at Home

Jupiter Internal Medicine Associates is pleased to announce an extension our medical practice for Medicare patients unable to come to our office.  HouseCall Specialists offers chronically ill patients who are unable to come to our office an alternative to medical care.  HouseCall Specialists providers offer residents living in Tequesta, Palm Beach Gardens, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Singer Island and North Palm Beach in home visits instead of at our office.

Medical Services Offered through HouseCall Specialists

• Mobile X-Ray Services
• Digital ultrasound
• Mobile EKG
• Venous doppler Studies
• Mobile Diagnostic Service
• Home Labs
• Digital radiography
• Flu Shots
• Diabetic Management
• Annual Physicals
• Medication Management
• Transitional Care Visits
• Care Coordination for durable medical equipment, home nursing, home physical therapy, home occupational therapy, home speech therapy and custodial care.

Senior Living Communities Frequently visited by House Call Specialists

Tequesta Terrace – Assisted Living and Memory Care – Tequesta, FL

Mangrove Bay – Juno Beach, FL

LaPosada Senior Living Continued Care Retirement Community – Palm Beach Gardens, FL

The Waterford – Independent Living and Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center – Juno Beach, FL

Your Life – Assisted Living and Memory Care – Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Discovery Village – Assisted Living and Memory Care – Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Addington Place – Assisted Living, Independent Living and Memory Care – Jupiter, FL

For more information and to see if you qualify for a house call visit, please contact Jackie at 561.331.1996