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4 Tests
Worth Taking
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High blood pressure.
Stroke.
Heart attack. Kidney problems.
Those are just some of the potentially
deadly diseases triggered by high
blood pressure. You should have your
blood pressure checked by a medical
professional at least once every two years.
AAMC nurses offer free blood pressure
screenings monthly at Westfield’s
Annapolis Mall. (See details on page 10
under “Annapolis Mallwalkers.”)
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Diabetes.
Health problems
associated with diabetes
include heart disease, stroke,
blindness and loss of limbs. You
should be screened for diabetes if
your blood pressure is higher than
135/80 mm Hg or you take medication
for high blood pressure.
A blood test can detect if your blood
sugar level is too high.
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High cholesterol.
The trouble
with having too much cholesterol in
your blood is that it can clog blood vessels
and lead to a heart attack or stroke. You
should have a fasting cholesterol test
every five years starting at age 20.
You may need to be tested more often if
you have certain risk factors. Ask your
doctor how often you should be tested.
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Colorectal cancer.
Screening for
colorectal cancer can find abnormal
growths in the colon before they become
cancerous, and it can detect signs of the
disease before they cause symptoms.
You should get tested for colorectal
cancer once you reach age 50. Your
doctor can tell you which screening test
for this disease is best for you.
News You Can Use
Have you heard of
MyChart? AAMC and
many of the doctors’ offices in our
community offer this innovative
electronic health record. In fact,
more than 15,000 of your neighbors
and friends are currently using the
tool actively to communicate with
their doctors, check test results and
better manage their health.
Do you need a primary care
provider? AAMC has welcomed a
number of new physicians to our
community in recent months. For a
referral, call our askAAMC nurse
advice line at
443-481-4000
.
Technology improvements.
While
primary care doctors have been providing
elements of this model for years, recent
advances in technology are speeding
up communication and effectiveness.
Computerized medical records and
online access keep your doctor more
readily available. He or she becomes
your go-to person for advice and
information, including reminders for
preventive care and health maintenance,
such as flu shots and mammograms.
“We’re all about preventing disease,
promoting wellness and managing medical
conditions (like diabetes, high blood
pressure or asthma) so that problems can
be caught early,” says Dr. Czapp. “The
In today’s whirlwind world, it’s
easy to look at schedules for home and
work and think that something just has
to give. And maybe one of the things
you are considering giving up are those
routine screening tests your doctor is
always recommending.
Before you put those tests on hold,
consider this: Getting screened for
serious diseases could literally save
your life. Screening tests can often find
diseases early, when treatment is likely
to work best.
Here are four common conditions for
which screening is vital for both men and
women. All of them are well worth your time.
Sources: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality;
American Heart Association
If you are 60 or older—or 50 or older with risk factors
such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high
cholesterol—you can have a free screening. It’s an easy
ultrasound exam of the carotid arteries in the neck and
the aorta in the abdomen, as well as an evaluation of
the circulation in your legs. Screening locations include
Annapolis, Bowie and Kent Island. We will be expanding to
Odenton in 2013.
Call us at
410-573-9483
.
medical home uses a team approach to
provide the right care at the right time—
in sickness or in health.” When you need
a specialist or require special testing, the
medical home coordinates that care.
Connecting you with care.
Many
primary care offices in our region have
extended their practice hours to enhance
access. Additionally, convenient online
“portals” connect patients to records
and test results, medical advice, and
easy ways to refill medications and
schedule appointments.
*Primary care physicians include those with training
in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics,
and geriatrics. Many primary care practices also
include nurse practitioners and physician assistants
as part of the team.
Free Vascular Screenings From AAMC and Dare to C.A.R.E.
askAAMC . o r g «
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