Being overweight is not simply hard on your self-esteem; it can also cause serious health problems over time. With obesity rates on the rise in the United States, the Lawrenceville doctors of Rodriguez MD care deeply about educating and empowering their patients to make healthy choices. Making small, simple changes in nutrition and exercise can add up to big weight loss benefits.
Obesity
Obesity rates in the United States have grown tremendously. Half of all Americans today are overweight or obese, which means that more Americans than ever before are at an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other diseases and conditions. There are two solid, healthy ways to curb obesity: adjust the amount and types of foods that are eaten, and participate in regular physical activity and exercise. If you have come to a point in your life when you are ready to take control of your weight, contact our Gwinnett doctors today for help with creating lifestyle changes that can bring about healthy weight loss. Maintaining a healthy weight will also help improve your feelings self worth, self-esteem and confidence. For tips on managing your weight in addition to some healthy recipes, check out the our blog.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against your artery walls. A blood pressure level of 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure. 120-139 for the top number, and 80-89 for the bottom number is considered pre-hypertension. Although high blood pressure itself often has no symptoms, it can cause serious and permanent harm. For this reason, our doctors are dedicated to treating high blood pressure right when it is first caught. Some of the serious medical issues that can be caused by high blood pressure include heart attack, kidney failure, heart failure and stroke. While high blood pressure can result in many dangerous conditions, it is also able to be lowered, controlled and maintained with proper lifestyle changes and habits, as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in every part of the body. What many people fail to understand is that cholesterol itself is not dangerous; in fact, our bodies need it to function and work properly. What is dangerous, however, is when there is too much cholesterol in the blood. Too much cholesterol in the blood will cause it to stick to the walls of your arteries, where at this point it is referred to as “plaque.” This plaque is what is responsible for narrowing the arteries and even blocking them. When arteries are blocked, blood cannot efficiently travel through the body, resulting in heart attacks and strokes. All it takes is a simple blood test at our on-site lab to discover high levels. You are more likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have the condition, if you are overweight and if you eat excessive amounts of fatty, greasy foods.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is currently the number one killer in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common cause of heart disease is the narrowing of the coronary arteries. The condition gradually worsens over time, and is also the major reason for people suffering from heart attacks. You can reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering your cholesterol, not smoking, maintaining a healthy blood pressure and weight, and getting plenty of exercise. Our dedicated and compassionate doctors will ease your symptoms, treat the cause of your heart disease and help you maintain a steady recovery back to good heart health.
EKG
We offer electrocardiography, better known as EKG. This technique records electrical impulses that precede the contractions of the heart. There is absolutely no discomfort to our patients during the quick procedure, which is often used for diagnosing different conditions and disorders of the heart. Our physicians analyze the printed graph, looking to see if the chambers of the heart are contracting with a regular, normal rhythm. Irregularities in the printed graph could signal ventricular fibrillation, a complete heart blockage, inadequate blood or oxygen supply to the heart, hypertrophy or arterial fibrillation. Any person who is suspected of having heart disease may have an EKG taken by one of our Gwinnett general practice doctors to gain a preliminary perspective of suspected heart issues.
CPET Stress Testing
Our doctors use the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test, or CPET, to measure how a patient’s heart, muscles and lungs work individually and in unison as a system. This is a non-invasive, simple test, and usually only lasts about one hour. Unlike a traditional stress test, the CPET is performed on a stationary bicycle. Many patients take the CPET to determine whether their symptoms are due to a medical problem such as lung disease or heart disease of if symptoms are caused by poor fitness levels. The results of the CPET help us determine the best course of treatment, whether it be prescription medication, referral to a cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation program, surgical treatment or continued monitoring of the condition.
