High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. What is #bloodpressure? It is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Read more
A stroke can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any age. Every four minutes someone dies from a stroke. Help NOAH raise awareness during #NationalStrokeAwarenessMonth by reading these tips and sharing them with your friends and family. Read more
Sleep is something that comes naturally, right? Not always. During Better Sleep Month, NOAH wants you to take charge and improve your nights and make sleep a priority. Did you know that sleep plays a critical role in maintaining your good health? Our NOAH team shares what happens to your body when you don’t get enough sleep and offers some trustworthy tips that can help you take charge of your sleep! Read more
Are you groggy and tired in the morning? You are probably not getting enough sleep. NOAH has a few tips to help you sneak in more sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Americans are in the middle of a sleep loss epidemic. Nearly eight in 10 Americans say they would feel better and more prepared for the day if they had just one more hour of sleep. Just when you thought getting a little extra sleep each night was impossible as you roll out of bed every morning, we at NOAH will share our secrets to better sleep with you that are sure to increase the quality and length of your sleep. Read more
Javier Zayas-Bazan, MD, Associate Director HonorHealth – Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center – Heuser Family Medicine Program
I love to cook at home and have 5 or 6 shelves full of cookbooks and binders I have made with recipes and notes. My inspiration comes from my 6-year old who has several food allergies. I’m helping my daughter live as normal a life as possible while navigating her extensive food allergies. I prefer to take recipes that I like and make substitutions to make them allergen friendly using common ingredient substitutions. Try these trustworthy brands that are sure to help you and your family live as normal a life as possible in the kitchen. Be sure to check out a few of my favorite recipes and try them at home. Read more
In order to fully understand food allergies, you need to understand what they are and how serious they can become if proper precautions are not taken to manage them. A food allergy is a medical condition where exposure to a food causes a harmful immune response, known as an allergic reaction. This occurs when the immune system attacks proteins in the food that are normally harmless. These proteins that trigger this reaction in the body are called allergens. Read more
May is Melanoma Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month which raises awareness about skin cancer and encourages the community to practice sun safe behaviors.
At NOAH, our patients are invited to schedule a skin check with their provider as a preventative measure Read more
Did you know that 86 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes? At NOAH, we make sure our patients receive the necessary screening and resources to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Our medical team and Registered Dietitian meet with our patients to review meal plan options and healthy alternatives to improve their lifestyle. Give us a call at 480-882-4545. Read more
By Patricia Avila, MD, FAAP – NOAH Copperwood Health Center Pediatrics
Would you be able to recognize when your child has had a concussion and what you should do about it? It is important for parents, players, and coaches to be able to recognize a concussion and know what to do next. Concussions are becoming more common now than ever before. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has reported that in the last 10 years the number of concussions in young athletes has doubled with as many as 3.8 million in 2012. It is estimated that 1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a concussion during a season with 33% occurring during practice. Every sport comes with some level of risk. Concussions are not only common in football but also in sports such as soccer, lacrosse, basketball, wrestling, softball, volleyball, cheerleading, and baseball. Girls are at higher risk than boys to suffer a concussion in a similar sport. A concussion can also happen off the playing field such as in a car accident, fall, bicycle accident, or during a physical fight.
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. The brain is a soft tissue that is cushioned by spinal fluid and inside a hard skull. During an injury it moves around in the skull and bangs against it causing damage to brain cells. Sometimes what seems to be a mild bump or blow can be serious. One important point to remember is that you can’t “see” a concussion on imaging unless there is more serious injury. It is recognized by the signs and symptoms after the injury.
Signs and symptoms from a concussion begin in the first 24-72 hours after the incident has occurred.
Physical signs and symptoms may include:
• Headache.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Sensitivity to noise or light.
• Feeling tired or with low energy.
• Balance problems.
• Dizziness.
• Blurry vision.
Cognitive signs and symptoms may include:
• Trouble thinking clearly.
• Feeling slowed down.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Trouble remembering or learning new information.
• Confusion.
Emotional signs and symptoms include:
• Irritability.
• Sadness.
• More emotional.
• Nervousness or anxiety.
Sleep related signs and symptoms include:
• Drowsiness.
• Sleeping less than usual.
• Sleeping more than usual and difficulty falling asleep.
If you, your child, or coach notice any of these after a blow/bump/jolt to the head pull the player out of the play or practice and see a doctor before allowing your child to return to play.
The health care provider will diagnose a concussion by asking questions about the injury, identifying the signs and symptoms, and by examination. Rarely will an order for imaging be needed to diagnose a concussion. The athlete may be referred for more testing as needed. A detailed plan for recovery and instructions on when to return for medical clearance should be given.
After a brain injury such as a concussion the brain and body need rest to recover. The first part of the plan is to rest the brain from activities that require concentration and focus. This includes limiting schoolwork and testing, restricting the use of electronics including video games, TV, cell phone use, and computers. Brain cells need to time repair themselves. Time helps the healing process and the effects of the concussion should lessen as symptoms decrease and become more tolerable.
The second part of the plan is physical rest. Once an athlete is able to tolerate school and is without symptoms at rest, they can slowly return to physical activity in a stepwise manner. Initially start with some light activity, progressing to sport specific exercise without head impact or contact, noncontact training drills with some light resistance training, and finally after medical clearance full contact practice. Each step should take at least 24 hours and if at any time symptoms worsen or return, they must return to the previous step. Remember, ignoring the symptoms and trying to “tough it out” can make symptoms worse and increase the risk for a more serious injury.
It is important to follow the rules for safety and the rules of the sport to decrease the chances of a concussion. An athlete should practice good sportsmanship at all times. Wearing the right protective gear is important.
• Protective gear includes:
• Helmets.
• Padding.
• Eye and mouth guards.
Make sure the gear fits properly, is well maintained, and worn consistently in order for it to be protective. Since not all concussions can be avoided, a parent, player, or coach must be aware of the signs and symptoms and what to do in the case of a concussion.
Concussions are serious injuries and can become more serious if not recognized and treated properly. Become educated and follow the health care provider’s direction for rest and recovery.
Not just for the sports enthusiast!
An action packed camera such as the GoPro is not just for the sports enthusiast. At NOAH, we use the GoPro’s amazing technology in conjunction with our colposcopy machine to help diagnose cervical cancer at an early stage. Read more
