Heart Health Awareness

February is heart health month, and the heart health screenings offered by FamilyHealth Medical Clinic earlier this month were well-attended, as they are each year. About 270 people stopped in on the designated mornings (announced in the January edition of this e-newsletter) to receive a complimentary assessment, which included a blood cholesterol test, blood pressure screening and height/weight assessment.

Knowing about heart health is important all year round, of course – not just in February. Being aware of common heart attack symptoms could be a life-saver.

Heart attack symptoms vary widely, but typically include one or more of the following: chest pain or discomfort, pain or discomfort elsewhere in the upper body with or without chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, anxiety or nausea. While some people feel excruciating pain, most heart attacks begin with only mild pain or discomfort, and symptoms may come and go.

If you suspect you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Don't be tempted to downplay your symptoms or brush them off as indigestion or anxiety. Getting heart attack treatment quickly improves your chance of survival and minimizes damage to your heart. Don't "tough out" these symptoms for more than five minutes. Call 911 or other emergency medical services for help.

Pink Eye

Pink eye. It’s a showstopper. It’s not something parents want to hear. It’s highly contagious and often means children are kept out of daycare and school until they start receiving eye drops.

Dan Faber, MD, a Cannon Valley Clinic–Mayo Health System pediatrician/internist based at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic–Farmington, says pink eye (conjunctivitis) involves inflammation on the outside of the eye. The inflammation causes pain, a scratchy or itching sensation, and a classic “pink” appearance to the eye itself. It can be accompanied by drainage that runs from clear to a greenish color. It is passed along by direct contact. A person with pink eye rubs his eye, touches something, and an uninfected person touches that “something” and rubs his eye.

Any time the eye is red or painful, Dr. Faber recommends that parents seek medical attention. “It needs to be looked at to make sure the red is not something more serious than pink eye,” he says.

And how do you prevent pink eye? Vigilant hand washing, says Dr. Faber.

To make an appointment with Dr. Faber, call 651-460-2300.

Surgical Services at Northfield Hospital? Absolutely.

Northfield Hospital provides a broad range of surgical services. From tonsillectomies to total joint replacement, our skilled surgeons offer a variety of specialties, including laparoscopic, urology, OB/GYN, oral and ophthalmology surgeries.

Same-day surgery patients find comfortable and convenient recovery quarters, with a nearby lounge for family and friends.

And we’re accessible without traffic or parking hassles: Northfield Hospital is an easy 20-minute drive from Lakeville and Farmington.

Surgical services? Absolutely. Great care? Of course.

RICE Keeps It Simple

Eventually, it happens. Somebody gets hurt.

Trainers at the Center for Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation (CSMR) encourage people to use the RICE principles for the first 72 hours after a joint or muscle injury.

RICE is an acronym for Rest – Ice – Compression – Elevation. Trainers recommend:

• Removing the athlete from play. Rest the injury until it no longer hurts.
• Ice the injured area 15 to 20 minutes every hour. It relieves pain, reduces swelling and accelerates the healing process.
• Use a compression bandage (Ace Wrap) for support and to reduce the swelling.
• Place the injured limb at a level above the heart to decrease swelling.

CSMR provides certified athletic trainers to Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Northfield High School and Farmington High School. CSMR is a service of Northfield Hospital & Clinics, with locations in Northfield and Lakeville.