The Beloved Medicine Clinic

Should I get an imaging test?
Most people do not need an imaging test such an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI. Most cases of back pain go away a few weeks. Doctors usually do not order imaging tests unless there are signs of something unusual.
If your doctor does not order an imaging test, do not worry. They can still learn a lot about your pain just from looking you over and talking with you.
How can the doctor or nurse tell what is wrong just by talking to me?
Your symptoms tell your doctor or nurse a lot about the cause of your pain. For example:
● If your pain started after you did something specific, like lifting a heavy object or twisting your back, you might have strained a muscle
●If your pain spreads down the back of 1 thigh, it could be a sign that 1 of the nerves that go to your leg is being pinched by a bulging or torn disc
●If your pain goes all the way down both legs, it could be a sign that you have a narrowed spinal canal. This is most often due to bony growths on your spine.

What causes low back pain?
Many different things can cause low back pain. Most of the time, doctors do not know the exact cause.
Back pain can happen if you strain a muscle. This is often what has happened when a person "throws out" their back. This refers to pain that starts suddenly after physical activity, like lifting something heavy or bending over.
Back pain can also happen if you have:
● Damaged, bulging, or torn discs
●Arthritis affecting the joints of the spine
●Bony growths on the vertebrae that crowd nearby nerves
●A vertebra out of place
●Narrowing in the spinal canal
●A tumor or infection (but this is very rare)

Type 2 diabetes (also called type 2 diabetes mellitus) is a disorder that is known for disrupting the way your body uses glucose (sugar); it also causes problems with the way your body stores and processes other forms of energy, including fat.
All the cells in your body need glucose to work normally. Glucose gets into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. If there is not enough insulin or if your body stops responding to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. This is what happens to people with diabetes. High blood sugar levels can lead to problems if untreated.
There are many "types" of diabetes. The two major types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2:
● In type 1 diabetes, the problem is that the pancreas (an organ in the abdomen) stops making insulin.
● In type 2 diabetes, the body stops responding to normal or even high levels of insulin, and over time, the pancreas does not make enough insulin.
In the United States, Canada, and Europe, approximately 90 percent of all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This is a chronic medical condition that requires regular monitoring and treatment throughout your life in order to keep your blood sugar levels in the target range. This involves lifestyle changes (including your diet and exercise habits), self-care measures, and sometimes medications. Often, medications are directed both at managing blood sugar and reducing the risk of heart disease and other problems that are more common in people with type 2 diabetes. Taken together, these treatments can minimize your risk of developing complications.

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Perineural Injection Therapy (PIT): Also known as Lyftogt (pronounced Lyftoff) Perineural Injection. We use this ground-breaking technique of injecting the chronic pain areas with Dextrose 5% (physiological solution), which is not a medication but a naturally occuring substance in the body, leading to reversal of the process causing the nerves to relay a "pain message" , and go back to relay normal sensation messages. The treatment works best for neuropathic pain and chronic pain in general. The results we are seeing are changing the concept of pain management throughout the last century and the past two decades of the current one. The technique was originally invented by a New Zealand based physician (Dr. Lyftogt), who is now travelling the world, preaching the good news. We are delighted to share this technique with our patients who are suffering from chronic painful conditions, especially neuropathic pain, leading to a major turnaround of their quality of life.

Nerve pain can arise after viral infection e.g. Shingles (Zoster Virus), and/or in association with diabetes, trauma, limb amputation and others. We target those nerves in different ways, having our patients take control of their pain, getting them gradually to relief.

New Provider Joining TBMC! Welcome Chiza Onyenekwu!
The Beloved Medicine Clinic is glad to announce that Chiza Onyenekwu, NP, will be joining our practice. Chiza graduated from UTA NP school after having her clinical rotation training at TBMC. Chiza has been already part of the TBMC family as a trainee, and now she is joining the team to give back to the Dallas area community. Chiza is known for her dedication, great bedside manners and being a great team player. We wish Chiza great success and prosperity

How can I lower my blood pressure?
If your doctor or nurse prescribed blood pressure medicine, the most important thing you can do is to take it. If it causes side effects, do not just stop taking it. Instead, talk to your doctor or nurse about the problems it causes. They might be able to lower your dose or switch you to another medicine. If cost is a problem, mention that, too. They might be able to put you on a less expensive medicine. Taking your blood pressure medicine can keep you from having a heart attack or stroke, and it can save your life!
Can I do anything on my own?
You have a lot of control over your blood pressure. To lower it:
● Lose weight (if you are overweight).
● Choose a diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.
● Eat less salt.
● Do something active for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
● Drink less alcohol (if you drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day).
It's also a good idea to get a home blood pressure meter. People who check their own blood pressure at home do better at keeping it low and can sometimes even reduce the amount of medicine they take.
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How is a high blood pressure emergency treated?
A high blood pressure emergency is treated in the hospital. Your doctor will give you medicines to lower your blood pressure quickly. These medicines are usually given through a thin tube that goes into your vein, called an "IV."
Your doctor will also treat any problems caused by your very high blood pressure, if possible.
People who have a high blood pressure emergency usually need long-term treatment to keep their blood pressure under control. This usually includes:
● Taking medicines
● Following a low-salt diet that includes a lot of fruits and vegetables
● Losing weight (if you are overweight)
● Getting regular exercise *P

Will I need tests for a hypertensive emergency?
Yes. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and check your blood pressure. They might use a special light to look in the back of your eyes.
Your doctor will also do tests to check how serious your condition is. Tests can include:
● Blood tests
● Urine tests
● Chest X-ray
● CT scan or other imaging test of your brain – Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.
● CT scan or other imaging test of your chest
● Electrocardiogram ("ECG") – This test measures the electrical activity in your heart

Image credit goes to master 1305 on freepik.com *P

What are the symptoms of a high blood pressure emergency?
The symptoms depend on the organ or organs affected. They can include:
● Blurry vision or other vision changes
● Headache
● Nausea or vomiting
● Confusion
● Passing out or seizures – Seizures are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can make people move or behave strangely.
● Weakness or numbness on 1 side of the body, or in 1 arm or leg
● Difficulty talking
● Trouble breathing
● Chest pain
● Pain in the upper back or between the shoulders
● Brown or bloody urine
● Pain in the lower back or 1 the side of the body

Image Credit goes to brgfx on freepik.com *P

What is a high blood pressure emergency?
A high blood pressure emergency is a serious condition that can happen when a person's blood pressure gets much higher than normal. When a person's blood pressure gets very high, it can lead to problems in 1 or more of the following organs:
● Eyes – Problems can include bleeding in the back of the eye, or swelling of the nerve that runs from the eye to the brain.
● Brain – Problems can include swelling or bleeding in the brain, or a stroke. A stroke is when a part of the brain is damaged because of a problem with blood flow.
● Kidneys – Very high blood pressure can lead to kidney failure, which is when the kidneys stop working.
● Heart – Heart problems can include a heart attack, heart failure, or damage to a major blood vessel.
Without treatment right away, these problems can lead to death.
When your doctor or nurse tells you your blood pressure, they say 2 numbers. For example, your doctor might say that your blood pressure is "140 over 90." When people have a high blood pressure emergency, their blood pressure is usually "180 over 120" or higher.
Other terms doctors might use for a high blood pressure emergency are "hypertensive emergency" or "malignant hypertension."
Sometimes, a person's blood pressure is much higher than normal, but it hasn't damaged any organs. Doctors call this "hypertensive urgency." Hypertensive urgency is not usually treated the same as a high blood pressure emergency.
In order to make sure this doesn't happen, check with your doctor and make sure your BP is always under control.

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The Beloved Medicine Clinic- John Melek, MD, MSc on Google Management of Diabetes can be very challenging for patients and their families if they take on the journey on their own, or by just taking medication and thinking it will solve the problem. At The Beloved Medicine Clinic, we help our patients realize that diabetes is a manageable disease, that needs...

Now we will discuss the practical steps:

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TREATMENT
Untreated hypertension can lead to a variety of complications, including heart disease and stroke. The risk of these complications increases as your blood pressure rises above 115/75, which is still in the normal range. Treating high blood pressure can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

Lifestyle changes — Treatment of hypertension usually begins with lifestyle changes. Making these lifestyle changes involves little or no risk. Recommended changes often include:

●Reduce the amount of salt in your diet

●Lose weight if you are overweight or have obesity

●Avoid drinking too much alcohol

●Stop smoking

●Exercise at least 30 minutes per day most days of the week

Call our clinic 972-566-4888

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Continuing our high blood pressure education for our patients;

Hypertension is often identified through routine screening. Experts recommend that people 40 years and older without a history of hypertension have their blood pressure checked once a year; screening should happen more frequently in people with risk factors such as obesity or family history, or who have had elevated blood pressure in the past. For younger people without risk factors, screening every few years may be a reasonable approach.

If your blood pressure is found to be elevated or high during in-office screening, you may be asked to confirm the results by checking your blood pressure yourself at home. This is because in many cases, a person's blood pressure temporarily increases when it is taken by a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional in the office setting. This is sometimes called "white coat hypertension." Your health care provider will use the readings from your in-office blood pressure check and your at-home results to determine whether or not you have true hypertension.

Call our clinic today 972-566-4888

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Continuing our educational series for hypertension!

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE RISK FACTORS
Although the exact cause of primary hypertension remains unclear, several risk factors have been identified. Your risk is higher if you:

●Are older (the risk increases with advancing age)

●Have obesity

●Have a family history of hypertension (ie, relatives who had or have high blood pressure)

●Are an African American person

●Consume a lot of sodium (salt) in your diet

●Drink a lot of alcohol

●Do not get a lot of physical activity

# Hypertension

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Now You can follow The Beloved Medicine Clinic information videos on the YouTube channel at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9oqtLE7HgBkhpEVH7ZTWw

The Beloved Medicine Clinic - YouTube Dr. Melek is board certified for Internal Medicine from the American Board of Internal Medicine practicing medicine in Dallas, TX. With 19 years of experienc...

The Beloved Medicine Clinic is starting a new educational series for our patients!

We will start with one of the most common problems facing most of our patients, HYPERTENSION!

What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is a condition that puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. It does not usually cause symptoms. But it can be serious.

When your doctor or nurse tells you your blood pressure, they will say 2 numbers. For instance, your doctor or nurse might say that your blood pressure is "130 over 80." The top number is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is contracting. The bottom number is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is relaxed.

"Elevated blood pressure" is a term doctors or nurses use as a warning. People with elevated blood pressure do not yet have high blood pressure. But their blood pressure is not as low as it should be for good health.

Many experts define high, elevated, and normal blood pressure as follows:

●High – Top number of 130 or above and/orbottom number of 80 or above.

●Elevated – Top number between 120 and 129 and bottom number of 79 or below.

●Normal – Top number of 119 or below andbottom number of 79 or below.

TO BE CONTINUED ....

# Hypertension

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